Treating Asthma and Allergies Naturally

Asthma and Allergies Changes in the air For many people, especially children, drugs such as bronchodilators and nebulisers are a familiar part of life well before their 3rd birthday.

Autumn is not often thought of as a time for asthma and allergies; however any change in season and especially colder temperatures can set them off.

Most people are well aware of the symptoms of asthma - a wheeze and/or cough accompanied by varying degrees of breathing difficulty. Sometimes, particularly in very young children, there is no audible wheeze just a nagging but exhausting cough. Some children will cough so much that it causes them to vomit. It's important to note that a wheeze doesn't have to be loud to be a problem. Tiredness is also often an underlying symptom - this is caused by reduced oxygen levels and the extra effort needed in trying to breathe, which can also lead to poor sleep.

Some asthma triggers include:

• Dust, pollen, dry air, air pollution, allergens, mould, pets, exercise and weather change


• House air-conditioning, household chemicals, colds/flu's, emotions, food, heating, hormones, medications, sex, smoking and stressful events


• Preservatives, especially 220, 221, 222, 223 and 224, tartrazine, colourings, additives etc

So what's actually happening? Asthma occurs when a particular part of our immune system is out of balance. Our immune system is designed to protect us from infections and keep us healthy. Allergy occurs when your immune system mistakes something that is normally harmless as being a threat and while 'protecting' you from it, creates a strong inflammatory response. This response is what produces the symptoms you experience as an allergic or asthmatic response. In asthma this inflammation presents as difficulty in breathing.

So what can we do about it? When treating asthma it's not simply about using a band-aid solution and ignoring the underlying problem. It's about finding out why your body is triggering a response and how to avoid this happening in the first place. It is a common misconception that this problem begins and ends with the lungs alone. The health of the body in general, and in particular the immune system, needs to be looked at as the first step in understanding the real nature of asthma.

How natural therapies can help... Natural therapies works extremely well on a preventative level with absolutely no side effects except effective asthma management and a healthier you! We build up your immune system and gastrointestinal system (GIT) to prevent the attacks happening in the first place! Having a strong and healthy GIT full of good gut bacteria (probiotics) and a lesser controlled amount of 'bad' bacteria, as well as a healthy bowel lining will prevent many triggers being able to cause a reaction. A first line of defence against asthma and allergies is to detoxify and repair your bowels, cleanse your blood and get that liver detoxing your body from harmful toxins! Get yourself clean and stay that way!

There is a very unattractive term us natural practitioners use called 'leaky gut' sounds gross, well it is. This sounds like something is leaking out of the gut and it is - harmful and harmless substances are leaking through your gut lining, into your blood stream, without being converted into compounds your body can actually utilise for better health. When your immune system picks up these unconverted foreign particles it mounts a very strong immune response showing itself as either an allergic reaction or an asthmatic reaction.

Babies and children... One of the most important reasons that you breastfeed your child for at least the first 6 months of the child's life is because of the benefits of your colostrum. This amazing superfood helps build the babies immune and digestive system. If you cannot breastfeed I highly recommend using goat or sheep's milk formulas, and a good quality children's probiotic, which are readily available at natural health food stores. Our bodies have a much easier time digesting the proteins in the goat and sheep's milk than from a cow - simple!

In terms of children with asthma their little bodies may not have a strong enough immune or digestive system to correctly respond to allergens, certain foods and food additives - which if we're being honest we too frequently allow into children's diets. Many children also have a hard time digesting dairy and wheat, and these are 2 very common triggers for asthma and allergies. If you do have a child who is prone to asthma or allergies it is often worth cutting dairy and wheat out of their diets to at least see how their symptoms change or don't. It is difficult sometimes and certainly made difficult by advertising, but natural food sources are always the best alternative for an asthma and allergy prone child.

Oh, I cannot stress strongly enough the wide spread effects sugar has on a child's health. Think of it as a 'toxin' next time you give them a lolly or some cordial....READ your labels! Have you ever seen a child whose behaviour gets better after a sugar fix?!

OK let's talk about the drugs and their effects on your body:

Firstly I need to stress that it is essential to have a reliever/puffer/ on hand in case of sudden attacks and severe cases of asthma. Combining drug therapy with natural medicine can be the most beneficial therapy. In the case of a severe asthma attack getting to the emergency department is imperative. Fast efficient medical treatment saves lives.

Bronchodilators (Relievers) work by opening the airways and relaxing the smooth muscles which surround the airways enabling easier breathing.

Continual use of Bronchodilators however is discouraged because their overuse increases airway sensitivity, worsening the underlying asthma. It is also important to know that aerosol drugs often contain propellants such as fluorocarbons, and that many elixirs contain preservatives, artificial colouring, sugar and flavours (including tartrazine). Hey I think I mention those words under triggers causing asthma and allergic attacks...hmmmm?

Preventers of which there are two types, non-steroidal and steroidal work by reducing inflammation in the airwaves.

Long term side effects of inhaled steroids...are you ready...

Puffiness, increased appetite, mood swings, raised blood pressure, thinning of bones, yes you read it folks thinning of bones, easy bruising, slowed growth, glaucoma and cataracts. Wow?! Scary stuff really. As mentioned earlier I strongly recommend having a puffer on hand in case of emergencies - it can save you or your loved one's life. Otherwise let's deal with the causes naturally and without harm to the body! There are so many alternatives that need to be looked at before you or your child is put on a drug based asthma management plan. Drugs can make asthma worse by covering up the symptoms rather than fixing what is the root problem. Mucolytics work on breaking down the mucous. There is some danger with this drug as a significant increase in liquefied mucous may occur after use and bronchospasm can worsen. It may cause side effects such as mouth inflammation, nausea and excess nasal mucous. Finally, medications are exempt from labelling laws; therefore additives are not listed on the bottles. In my professional opinion the best alternative is to use medications only in emergencies and instead to focus on creating healthy bodies.

The reality is that asthma and allergies are an increasing problem in our society. In Australia we have one of the highest rates of asthma in the world. In fact over 10% of the population suffers from asthma in some form. There is a lot of evidence coming to light that as we increase our exposure to preservatives, chemicals and medications we will see a further increase in the prevalence of asthma and allergies. There are healthy alternatives.

So my best advice to you is to seek naturopathic help for the prevention and control of asthma and allergies naturally!

Emergency First Aid - How to Treat an Asthma Attack

In 2009, an estimated 17.5 million adults in the United States suffered from asthma. Most of us have heard of this common medical condition, but what exactly is it?

What is asthma?

The body has a system of tubes called airways to carry air from our mouth/nose to our lungs. The largest of these is our trachea (known as windpipe). This then splits into two bronchi which then split into a network of tiny bronchioles. This network of bronchioles delivers air to the tiny sacs where gas exchange takes place (known as alveoli).

Asthma is an inflammatory condition affected the smallest airways - the bronchioles. These tiny tubes can become inflamed and secrete excessive amounts of mucous causing severe difficulty in breathing. This is known as an asthma attack. The cause of asthma is thought to be a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

An asthma attack is normally triggered by something, whether it be an allergen (e.g: pollen, dust, vehicle emissions, soot etc.) or an environmental condition such as cold air. Normally, an asthma attack is characterised by the following symptoms:

• A wheezing sounds when breathing


• Difficulty in breathing


• Unable to complete a full sentence


• Hyperventilation


• Anxiety and panic


• Reducing levels of consciousness

Remember not all of these signs and symptoms may be obvious.

The casualty may wear a bracelet on their wrist/ankle/neck with details of their asthma. Also, they may carry their medication with them.

First aid for an asthma attack

Step 1: Sit the casualty down in the position they find most comfortable for their breathing. Normally the best position is sitting upright. Do not lie the casualty down as this will make breathing more difficult for them.

Step 2: Find their medication, which is normally an inhaler (possibly with a spacer device) containing a drug such as Salbutamol.

Step 3: Assist the casualty to use their medication. They should know how many doses to take and how to use the inhaler.

Step 4: Provide reassurance and help calm the person's breathing if they are hyperventilating.

If the medication does not have any effect, the casualty starts to become drowsy/exhausted or if they have forgotten their medication then you should call an emergency ambulance immediately. If the casualty becomes unconscious, then open their airway by tilting their head back and check for normal breathing. If they are breathing then roll them onto their side to protect their airway. If they are not breathing then commence Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Asthma attacks can appear frightening but you should make every effort to remain calm and in-control of the situation.

Vitamin Supplements For Asthma

Asthma is a lung disease in which the airway becomes inflamed and results in wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, chest tightness, and coughing. The airway becomes contracted and leads to breathing difficulty. Symptom intensity is different in different people. Some may have severe symptoms and some may have very mild symptoms. The triggering factors also vary from person to person.

Asthma can be treated differently and there are many different ways for treating asthma. It can be treated through medications, inhalers, anti-inflammatories, herbal medications, homeopathy, and even yoga. These different methods can be helpful to one or the other person depending on the intensity.

Vitamin supplements also help in treating asthma. Vitamins are essentially in day-to-day life. If vitamins are not taken in appropriate quantities it can lead to one or the other deficiency. Vitamin supplements are available in many different forms, for example tablets, capsules, chewable, and even liquid form.

Lycopene is an antioxidant related to beta-carotene. It is found mostly in tomatoes. The asthma symptom that has occurred due to vigorous exercises is relieved by Lycopene. One can say that exercise-induced asthma attack is controlled by this vitamin supplement. One of the reasons for asthma is deficiency of vitamin B6. Some asthma medications like theophylline and aminophylline reduce this deficiency and control the symptoms of asthma. Even vitamin B6 tablets are helpful for asthma patients.

Vitamin supplements containing vitamin B12 is helpful in reducing wheezing and it improves the breathing rate. Some people also take supplements containing vitamin C as research shows that it has the ability to fight against virus. There are proofs of people benefit from cold symptoms by taking vitamin C supplements and which indirectly is beneficial to asthma patients.

Magnesium is a vital mineral that helps to reduce swelling and inflammation of the cell. This mineral also helps to normalize muscle contraction and relaxation. Grape seed extract is also used as a supplement which contains bioflavonoid-like ingredients to reduce the release of antihistamines. One such product is cordyceps also used for asthma symptoms. It improves the breathing rate and also increases oxygen intake.

There are many ways of controlling asthma amongst them is vitamin supplement. These should be taken only under the direction of the physician. Asthma is a disease which can be taken care of by our own lifestyle and way of living. One should take proper body hygiene and also the diet should be taken balanced which helps our immunity system leading to better life.

What is Over-Breathing and Hyperventilation

The problem with asthma is that when your having an attack, you just need more air, and you can't get enough, and if you've run out of inhalers it's even worse as the wheeziness and tight chest increases. But this "over-breathing" leads to hyperventilation, which can lead to a bad asthma attack that could be fatal. Over breathing can make your asthma worse! But what is over breathing?

The internationally recognised measure for breathing is the "Minute Volume". This measure depends on your age, size, height and gender, and is a measure of how much air you breath per minute. Normally this should be around 4 - 6 litres of air per minute while you are at rest. Over breathing occurs when you are breathing between 2 to 4 times the normal rate. This is called Hyperventilation, and can trigger an asthma attack. But why?

Over-breathing leads to the breather receiving LESS oxygen, not more! This is because by over breathing, the carbon dioxide that is required by hemoglobin to release oxygen into the blood stream is reduced. The reaction to this is to increase the rate of breathing to compensate. This leads to hyperventilation, and most certainly an asthma attack.

Taking control of your breathing is a key way of reducing the symptoms of asthma, and even eradicating it. By practicing the techniques of shallow breathing (breathing so that air flow through the nose is barely perceptible), and controlled breath holding, many asthma sufferers have reported amazing success in seeing their use of asthma drugs reduce drastically. The techniques require discipline, but they do work! But how?

Well, by holding your breath, you are increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in your body. This means more oxygen can be released into the blood stream, thereby normalising breathing. Its that simple! And very effective! Of course, you don't hold your breath until you are passing out, because that can cause an asthma attack. Hold your breath until its uncomfortable ( if you can work towards more than 30 seconds, that will certainly help your building strength and capacity in your lungs) and then slowly inhale.

The actual technique of breath holding is beyond the scope of this article, but will be covered in my up coming book on asthma. Needless to say, please consult your doctor when trying new breathing techniques.

Using Peak-Flow Meters for Your Asthma

Peak-flow meter is a small softball size portable device, available in very economical price in the market. It is relatively easy and to use and measures the air flow in your airways. The rate at which air moves through the lungs and airways is called Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR). An important point here to remember regarding peak-flow meter is that it is a device used to monitor air flow, and not to diagnose the asthma.

A peak-flow meter is a useful device that helps you in identifying asthma symptoms by telling you whether the airways are narrowing, or stethoscope detects any wheezing sound. Before the things get worse, you can seek help from your asthma management plan and PEFR to take some additional medications. Peak-flow readings help you and your doctor to conclude that the medicine plan is working fine or not. Your doctor will increase or stop your medication according to your PEFR. Peak-flow meter is also used to determine or identify personal asthma triggers.

Who Should Use a Peak-flow Meter?

Normally the people who take asthma medication daily are usually suggested to make a peak-flow meter part of their routine usage. In early weeks after diagnosis, peak-flow meter is used to assess airways' response to prescribed medication and helps to figure out and changes happen over time between readings and exposure to asthma triggers.

The guidelines published in 1997 by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute suggests that you are required to use a peak-flow meter on for a long term on daily basis, if you are older than five years of age and is a victim of moderate or severe asthma.

Mild, Moderate and Severe Asthma

With mild asthma you get mild attacks just once or twice a week. Symptoms of mild asthma are irregular. With mild asthma, your breathing reading on peak-flow meter should be about 80 percent as strong as it should be. The breathing rate with mild asthma will remain almost the same during day and night time. With such condition, your doctor may suggest you to inhale short-acting beta 9 agonist during asthma attacks. Within few minutes this inhaler or reliever medication will help you to have comfortable breathing. Whether you have mild or severe asthma, it is better to keep a record of your breathing patterns in asthma diary, using peak-flow meter.

Moderate asthma victims can have more than one asthma attack within a week. Severe coughing, wheezing and serious breathing problems can be a part of your attack. The peak-flow meter should be measured as 60 to 80 percent normal breathing rate. Moderate asthma attacks make breathing difficult for you at night time. A corticosteroid (a long-term controller) every day and a short-acting beta agonist (a quick reliever) are recommended during asthma attacks.

The people affected from severe asthma might have an asthma attack everyday. Chronic cough is a symptom of severe asthma. Like moderate asthma, the severe asthma also makes breathing difficult at nights. The breathing rate on peak-flow meter would measured as half of the normal rate. Higher dosage of an inhaled corticosteroid (a long-term controller) every day and a short-acting beta) agonist (a quick reliever) will be recommended.

Mold Dust Revealed- The Air in Your House May Be Making You Sick

We have all seen the stories on the news and read the articles in the newspaper about "sick buildings" and houses that have become uninhabitable and left the owners with a house they cannot sell. What makes these buildings dangerous to humans? Mold and the spores they generate into the air as they reproduce.

Breathing in mold spores (often referred to as mold dust) can heighten allergies, trigger asthma attacks, cause eye and skin irritations for even non-allergic people and lead to infections for those whose immune system is weak. This article will investigate the symptoms people exhibit if their house contains an unhealthy amount of mold.

As mold grows, it sends out spores which float through the air and look to land on a moist area. Once they find a moist area, they begin to digest whatever organic material they have landed on (ie. wallpaper, cardboard, books, wood) and emit gases as they digest their food. These gases can be toxic.

A very common reaction to inhaling mold spores and their gaseous compounds is heightened allergic reactions such as congestion, difficulty breathing and red eyes. These symptoms can begin almost immediately after exposure.

Folks who suffer from asthma that breathe in the spores can experience an asthma attack, especially if they are spending a lot of time in the room that has the mold growing. However, because the spores can spread quickly throughout the house, they may be affected in other rooms as well where the mold is not yet established.

People who normally do not suffer from allergies may start to exhibit allergy symptoms as their body react to the mold in the air. Hay fever like symptoms such as nose and throat irritation, runny nose and sneezing may begin. For these people to be suffering from allergy symptoms is a good sign that your house's indoor air is being affected by mold growth.

Those folks that have compromised immune systems due to other ailments are more vulnerable to infections caused my molds. Even those with otherwise healthy immune systems may be affected with common skin diseases such as athletes foot or yeast infections as a result of the compromised air.

If your family starts exhibiting any of these symptoms, especially members who otherwise do not suffer from allergies, you should immediately suspect mold problems. Begin to investigate your house for evidence of mold growth, and most importantly begin the process of figuring out why your house's moisture is high enough to support mold growth.

OTC Asthma Attack Treatment

Nowadays, there are several OTC medications that consumers can avail of, regardless of their condition. The same option is available for asthma attack treatment, given that asthma is one of the most common ailments among the population. And as the rate of individuals suffering from asthma are projected to grow, pharmaceutical companies have made sure that cure for asthma is made easily accessible so that people will have ways to easily manage their condition.

In other cases, people spend a long phase in their life without suffering from any symptoms of asthma. Despite of this, you need to be prepared with an asthma treatment plan because you can never predict when an asthma attack will happen. OTC asthma attack treatment is then a good option for you.

Rescue Inhalers is just one of several over-the-counter or OTC asthma attack treatment available. But despite the popularity of this particular treatment method, there are several asthmatic patients who have noticed this method has become less effective over time. In other times, no relief is experienced at all. When this happens, your doctor will prescribe another asthma attack treatment to control the symptoms. These medications are intended to open up airways and facilitate in proper function of your respiratory system. If you are using OTC medications or asthma treatments however, make sure to follow instructions properly to avoid causing harm or further endangering your condition.

Aside from inhalers, another type of OTC asthma attack treatment option is the pill. When taken internally, the asthma pill should help loosen up any form of airway constriction during asthma episode. For more effective results, you can combine taking medications with alternative form of medicine such as yoga and deep breathing exercises. The latter is also very effective in de-stressing yourself to effectively loosen up your airway passages. Another benefit to performing these exercises in combination with taking medications is the ability to reduce the possibility of or reduce future asthma attacks.

But despite of having developed breathing techniques, it is advised to always carry around a rescue inhaler or other forms of OTC asthma attack treatment options to provide immediate relief whenever there is an occurrence of symptoms.